by Lisa Ray
Ryker pushed buttons and then placed the phone on speaker. A gruff male voice answered. “Anthony, this is Ryker. Just listen, I don’t have much time.”
Anthony spoke through the phone without hesitation, “ What do you need?”
“We are on the top floor of a building not too far from your clan. It is the headquarters of the rogues and they are crawling all over the place. They have humans in the basement as prisoners. We aren’t going to leave them. Are you and your clan ready for a battle?”
Anthony didn’t hesitate. “Address? And we will be there ASAP. Still take us half an hour to arm up. Can you last that long.”
“We can. We will go to the roof. Remember there are Lycan with me.” Ryker reminded Anthony.
“And there will be more. I’m calling the pack close to here and inviting them to the party. Any objections?” Archer asked as he raised his eyebrows.
Anthony responded through the speaker.” Nope, I know Joshua well and we have conversed since this began. I can even call him for you so you can worry about yourselves and we can come in together.”
“Thanks, Anthony. Do it! Got to go. The rogues will be here any minute.” Ryker spoke.
“See you soon.” Anthony said as the phone clicked off.
Ryker looked at Archer, “Now we wait or fight. Whatever we have to do. But first, to the roof.”
Chapter Eighteen
Chloe and Levi had retrieved the silver chains that had bound Ryker. The boy helped to bind Williams’s wrists behind him. All the while Ryker and Cloe were removing ceiling tile to discover concrete. The stepsto thr roof were coded with another panel and no one knew how to open the lead enforced door. So the ceiling was the next best bet. But the work was slow and even their superior strength was being tested rying to punch through several layers of steel enforced concrete.
“I know a way.” The boy announced. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at Levi.Without waiting for a reply he walked to a small door in the wall. It was about two feet off the floor and measured about two by three in demensions. A dumbwaiter. Opening the door revealed the dumbwaiter still there. Meaning the rogues hadn’t thought of it yet.
Archer immediately destroyed the wooden box and was left with the chains of a pulley system that went up. There was no concrete ceiling directly above. A square had been cut out of the concrete and had been replaced withsteel bars. These bars held a heavy duty pulley system that activated the dumbwaiter. Above the bars was the roof. Easy to punch through.
Like the animal he was, Archer swung out and climbed the chains up to the roof. Leaving the section with the pulley, he held on to the chain with legs and one arm and proceeded to punch until there was an opening big enough for them all to get through. Climbing back down, Archer commanded,” Give me the boy. He goes first.”
“Levi, my name is Levi. And I can climb.” Levi spoke defiantly
“He knows you can. But we must be quick. So go to him.” Ryker spoke gently but firmly to Levi.
Levi was soon on his way up with Archer. Hagan motioned William to go next. William winced when they removed his chains. “Remember, I’m right on your heels.” Hagan told him.
William climbed up with Hagan so close there wasn’t much doubt in Williams’s mind he was a prisoner. Once on the roof, the chains bound William once more.
Chloe was next and then Ben. Then Lisette and finally Ryker. With the massive strength that is within their species, they destroyed the pulley system and blocked the hole. So far so good.
No one spoke. Ryker took Lisettes hand and pulled her to the side.
“What have you done? And who did this to you?” Ryker was angry
“I did this to myself. We needed someone to enter and find you and I couldn’t be human to do it. Hagan wanted Chloe but I threatened to go as a human if they didn’t change me. Hagan had no choice. I was coming for you in any form. So He changed me. ”Lisette looked at Ryker. Deep into his eyes as blue as the ocean. “I love you, Ryker. You gave up yourself for me. So here I am.”
“But so quickly. How are you controlling your thirst? I know that if a human makes it through the change then it takes time to adjust and control.”
“I’ll admit it’s hard. But I focus on you and the job that needed to be done. Although I fear it I don’t eat soon I may lose control.” Lisette looked slightly worried.
Ryker turned to Archer and beckoned him to them. “I know it’s a lot to ask but I fear I don’t have the strength and Lisette needs to feed. Are you willing?”
Archer didn’t hesitate. He held out his arm. Lisette looked at Archer as she took his arm in her hands and raised it to her lips. “Stop me if I can’t. Do you understand?”
Both men nodded. Lissette’s hunger was all at once apparent as her face stretched and fangs appeared. The men knew it was all she could handle to not devour the flesh presented to her. She slowly raised Archers arm and bit into the vein that blazed a blue streak from elbow to hand. She restrained herself as she sucked hard. Archer’s life blood flowing through her, sating her hunger. After a bit, Ryker touched her shoulder and it was all she could do to pull her mouth away from the red flow that was so enticing. But she did. She wiped her mouth with her sleeve and watched as Archer held pressure on the two puncture wounds. Soon they were skinned over.
“Too much?” Lisette looked at Archer.
“About right, I’d say. You’re very impressive with your control. And you didn’t take enough to affect my strength. I’m glad to assist my mother-in-law.” Archer said as he walked away with a laugh.
“I feel better, stronger even.” Lissette looked at Ryker.
“And you will grow even stronger as time passes. I will work with you. Teach you our ways. You will stay with me forever. I love you Lisette. I think I have since I first set eyes on you.” Ryker took Lisette in his arms. He lowered his mouth to hers and she raised her lips to meet him half way. The kiss started gentle and increased in intensity. Lisette was feeling things she didn’t know were possible. She had much to learn.
“Hey guys. Don’t you think you can wait until we get away from here to do all that stuff. We have a situation here. I think the rogues are through to Williams’s penthouse.” Hagan spoke toward his leader.
With all the group gathered back together and around the hole, Ryker and Archer put their heads together.
Archer said, “We need to guard the hole but also the other areas of the roof. Let’s spread out a little and watch all areas but stay close together.”
Ryker nodded agreement and everyone moved. Ryker took Levi by the arm and moved him with him. Levi looked at Ryker with hero worship in his eyes.
Ryker whispered loud enough for everyone to hear,’ Now we wait. Help should be arriving soon.”
Chapter Nineteen
The rogues had found the way up. The rooftop group listened as the shouts and curses grew closer. Soon the rogues would have the debris blocking the hole cleared. From all around, sounds rose as the rogues began to gain access to the small group. Levi actually spotted the first rope. Pointing to the rope with a hook on the end that had landed at the far end of the roof, Levi went unnoticed. The boy nudged Ryker until he drew his attention. Ryker moved into action. Faster than lightening he was at the top of the rope to meet the first vampire rogue as he swung onto the roof. Soon there were many. As long as the rope was there the onslaught would overcome them. Hagan had joined Ryker in the fight against at least six large Vampires. The others were busy also. The rogues had opened the hole and it was all Archer and Ben and Chloe could do to keep the rogues from gaining access. Lisette had seen a second rope thrown up and was waiting for the first rogue.
Levi, watching all that was happening, didn’t stand frozen. He took the long knife Ryker had given him and ran as fast as he could. Dodging vamps and wolves like a pro, He reached the rope by Hagan and Ryker. Levi swung his blade and sliced the rope in two. They could hear the cries of the climbers as they fell to the ground below. Hagan and Ry
ker finished off the last two rogues right as the rope fell. Hagan left Ryker and ran to help the fight at the hole. Wolves were lunging fast and furiously and Vamps with lightning speed were beginning to make their way up on the edge of the hole. And then Hagan arrived. Chloe watched as his silver sword took the heads off of all the standing beings on the holes edge. Archer had turned and finally Chloe did too. She was all wolf now. Head down, no one else was coming through that hole.
Lisette was in trouble. She was surrounded. Two wolves and three Vamps. Ryker was in the midst of the battle before Lisette knew what was happening. She raised her short swords she held in each hand and let instinct take over. Between Ryker and she they made short order of the Five that were brave enough to climb the rope. Levis grinned at them as Ryker tousled his head. He had immediately run and cut the second rope after the first.
“Good thinking, Levi. You saved many rogues lives,” And Ryker leaned his head back and laughed. He looked and spoke loudly over his shoulder, “Levi, Lisette and I will defend the edges. Keep the hole clear.”
“We got this,” Hagan shouted back as he watched the Auburn haired wolf tear the arm off an ascending Vamp. He smiled to himself. She was a fighter.
Ryker and Lisette, using their speed, checked the edges constantly. Levi was cutting ropes as fast as he could.
Finally Ryker shouted some welcome news. “Here comes the Calvary!!!”
Everyone paused to look toward the gates to see hordes of immensely large wolves and Vampires sword and gun in hand entering the battle. They were over and through the fence before the rogues knew what hit them. All were painted red in places. Clever idea. That way they knew the good guys from the bad. The wolves had a red stripe painted on their heads. The Vampires had red painted stripes on their faces. Soon the rogues were overcome. The ones that had been trying to get to the roof disappeared as they left to join the battle on the ground. The group on the roof watched as the Alliance of Peace fought side by side to defeat the ones that wanted to take the world back to the dark ages.
And they couldn’t stand it. Making their way through the hole, the group made their way down to join in the battle. They hadn’t forgotten William. He was ushered into the room Ryker had been held in and locked in. They would be back for him later. Ryker asked Hagan to take Levi to the basement. Chloe offered to go along in case they encountered any obstacles. Ryker bent to the ground and dipped his fingers in the blood soaked ground and marked his face. The others followed suit with Archer and Chloe marking their heads. And then the wolves emerged.
Ryker, Archer, Lisette and Ben charged full force into the battle. Having no mercy, the rogues didn’t stand a chance. The ground was slippery and red. It was beginning to be hard to tell the good guys from the bad as everyone was splattered with red. Bodies littered the ground in such large piles that the ones still fighting had to work hard not to stumble and fall over them. Soon the few rogues that were left tried to drop arms and surrender. But there was no quarter. The frenzy of victory made their lives unimportant. They were executed by many swords and fierce fangs. Then only the Alliance was left. The Lycan's were in human form again and a victory cheer rose up as they realized they had just fought and won the first major battle in what was to become a War of Wars.
Hagan, Chloe and Levi emerged from the doorway followed by humans of all shapes and sizes. They were afraid of the carnage they saw. They cowered against the wall of the building. Ryker walked toward them.
“Humans, tonight you have witnessed the first battle of many to come. The rogues that captured you want to take us back to the old ways. The days long ago when we fought and reaped carnage upon all the world. But we are an Alliance of Peace. Lycan and Vampire alike that fight for you. For your right to live. Just as there are good and evil humans, the same is true for our species. Do not be afraid of us. We have defeated our common enemy tonight. I am afraid we will have many more to come. But until and if we ever have to, we ask that you not tell the world yet about what you have seen. It will only bring chaos and most humans will consider all of us as enemies. We want to send you home. But we are also offering you sanctuary with us. Either the Lycan Pack or the Vampire Clan. Make your choice. Join us or go to your home and keep watch. Either way, we will not stop you. You are free.”
The humans had slowly stood up and moved forward as Ryker spoke. Levi walked up and took Ryker’s hand in his own. Levis mother went to Levi and stood beside him. Soon all humans were moving. If they were whole families, they were joining the ranks. Singles began to talk to pack members and clan members finding out how top to get their families and join with them. The humans knew they would be safer among the Alliance. And so it was that the local Clan and Pack took in many human families. Ryker and Archer talked to their friends and explained they were teaching the humans to fight also. That the few that knew had a right to learn to protect themselves as best they could. And so it began.
Chapter Twenty
The helicopter landed amidst the carnage of the first of many battles to come. The local clans and packs would clean up the mess and try to leave no trace for humans to find come sunup. The task of keeping the humans out of the War was becoming one that wasn’t easy. One day all humans may know the truth.
Ryker hoped it wouldn’t come to that. But he was afraid for the humans that walked the earth. The numbers that had emerged from the basement of the rogue’s headquarters probably only represented a few that have been taken by rogues across the country. Humans weren’t stupid. They would notice a pattern if they hadn’t already. And taking out this main headquarters in Alabama meant nothing. Whoever the big boss behind all of this was would send more to do his bidding.
He and Archer would spread the word on what had happened the last few days and ask that nationwide everyone watch for signs of large rogues movements where they may set up their next headquarters. Hopefully this would slow them down a bit.
Ryker told Archer he was going to put some of his people on contacting clans around the world to see what was happening. Archer agreed to do the same.
William sat uncomfortably in the chopper between Hagan and Chloe. He knew his fate. He didn’t want to cease to exist but he knew that was imperative. But it wouldn’t stop the movement. A slight smile came to his evil lips as he thought of the big boss. No one knew the power he had. He wouldn’t stop. The world would eventually belong to him.
The chopper landed inside Ryker’s community. Hagan and Chloe took William with them to put in the cell of silver where Lisette had been turned. He would be dealt with later. Ben had dibs on that, along with Ryker.
Archer and Ryker lingered on the lawn for a minute in conversation.
“The first of many I’m afraid.” Archer wrinkled his brow.
“True. But a victory none the less. Thank you for coming for me.” Ryker replied.
“Don’t thank me, thank Lisette. Shes a stubborn woman. And quite amazing for what she has accomplished so quickly.”
Ryker glanced to where Lisette stood talking with her daughter, Bella, who had come to meet the chopper.
“Yes, but she still has much to learn. I will teach her. “Ryker said possessively.
Archer smiled, “I’m sure you will. Aside from that, it seems the packs community is almost ready for us to go back. We couldn’t have done this so soon without your people. We owe you. Lisette should be happy to return too,” Archer slyly smiled at Ryker.
Ryker looked at Archer,” Lisette stays here.”
Archer laughed out loud. The two women standing near turned to look at him and then walked over to join them. Bella linked her arm with Archers.
Bella spoke first, smiling. “It seems mom is staying here.”
Ryker linked his hand with Lissette’s, “She belongs here now. She has much to learn and I have much I want to learn about her. I will take good care of her.”
“Hey guys, I can speak for myself. I’m staying with Ryker because I love him. He’s right though, I do have a lot to learn. B
ut I will only stay on one condition. Ryker has to marry me. I’m about to be a grandmother and I have to set a good example.” Lisette looked at Ryker.
Ryker’s face showed a mix of surprise and contentment, “I suppose if that’s the only way you will stay, I will concede.” He smiled slightly
Lisette poked him in the ribs with her elbow. “Let’s do it in the next few days before Archer’s people go home. It will a big grand coming together.”
“Oh, lets!” Bella released Archer and took her mother’s arm and they started walking away, making plans.
Archer looked at Ryker. “We will stay for the wedding and then move. I’m happy for you Ryker. But she is my mother-in-law so treat her well. “It was a soft warning.
Ryker understood that and bore no malice for it. He respected it. “I intend to treat her well for as long as we have on this earth. I have waited on her for a long time.” Ryker said as his eyes left Archers to watch Lisette walk away with her daughter.
The two men talked of a few other things, the battle and their fears for the future. The humans and their training. And then they decided to leave it for another day. Claiming their women, Archer and Ryker each went to their own homes to end the day wrapped in the arms of the woman they loved.
Across the sea a roar of anger echoed through a small dark village. The village, surrounded by miles and miles of forests, kept the roar from reaching the ears of human inhabitants in the cities beyond. The ones in the village looked up at the ancient castle that centered itself on a rise of earth in the middle of the small dwellings. Each Vampire or Lycan knew not the reason for their leader’s anger. But they hoped it wouldn’t spill over inside their homes.
Within the high stone walls of the stone cold castle, a Vampire, older than anyone knew, pounded his fists on a table of thick oak, worn with time. He would send another to the States. This time he would choose someone without the help of his Lycan partner. Useless Wolf. He would send word that William was dead and that he had already handled sending another in his place. A Vampire of evil intent. One merciless and unforgiving. A man almost as sly and cunning as he himself was. His old friend, Ryker and Ryker’s new Alliance with the Lycans led by Archer wouldn’t know what hit them. Let his Wolf partner come to him if he had a problem.